First up, is “Memory Making Mom.” This book is a Christian based book, but its wisdom transcends religious boundaries and is a great read for all moms. In our world of drawing in “mom hacks”, this books reminds us of the lost art of savoring childhood moments. From candlelit dinners to homemade pizza Fridays, it’s a rallying cry to infuse magic into the mundane and build traditions that last a lifetime. Let’s face it, quick fixes may save some time, but they pale in comparison to the memories we create with our little ones. It’s important to slow down and embrace the hard work that motherhood is.
Next on the roster is “Bringing Up Bebe”, a view into the heart of French parenting. It’s written by an American mom navigating mom culture in France, extracting nuggets of wisdom on boundaries and freedom. It’s all about giving kid’s structure while also allowing them to spread their wings. From mealtime manners to handling meltdown, this book has been a game-changer in our home. For example, mom is in charge of what’s for dinner and kid’s are responsible for what and how much they eat of it. Embracing “no” as a complete sentence and fostering independence within boundaries has transformed my toddler into a more self-assured, well-behaved dynamo. Her tantrums have been shorter and she feels more secure knowing mom and dad are in charge and will explain why we said no once she’s ready to listen. I loved this one so much, it’s a book I regular gift to new moms during the baby shower.
Last but certainly not least, “Hunt, Gather, Parent” takes us through different and diverse cultures of raising children. There’s ideas like instead of having a chore chart for a child, you should just encourage them to clean when they’re younger and want to do everything you do, rather than putting them in front of the TV while you clean up. This gives them the sense that cleaning is a part of their role as a child, rather than their role being sitting in front of the TV while mom’s role is to clean up after them. We started doing this as well and noticed instead of demanding my daughter clean her plate after dinner, she prefers wiping the table and sweeping the floors. We give her the freedom to choose how to help clean up after dinner rather than forcing her to clean how we decide and her ending up hating it. This book also has a list of practical things to stop tantrums. These have been extremely helpful during my toddler’s meltdowns. Things as simple as tickling them when you see a tantrum about to start, or putting them outside to get fresh air instead, resets their nervous system and helps prevent a breakdown from happening in the first place. Those toddler meltdowns aren’t for the faint of heart and the tips from this book have been the only things to actually help stop and reverse them. 
In the overwhelming sea of parenting manuals, these three books stand out as beacons of wisdom, guiding me on this wild and wonderful journey of motherhood. So here’s to embracing tradition, setting boundaries with love, and raising resilient, resourceful little humans — one insightful page at a time.